Method of heating and apparatus therefor



Sept. 19, 1967 R. E. MAYO METHOD OF HEATING AND APPARATUS THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 18, 1965 INVENTOR ATTORNEK Sept. 1967 R. E. MAYO 3342,13

METHOD OF HEATING AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Filed Aug. 18, 1965 2 Sheets'Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,342,413 METHOD OF HEATING AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Reubin E. Mayo, Florence-Mayo Nuway Company, Farmviile, N.C. 27828 Filed Aug. 18, 1965, Ser. No. 480,614 11 Claims. (Cl. 237-3) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates to heating systems employing an elongated duct having a cross section continuously and uniformly decreasing in the direction of fluid flow, and a plurality of cut-out flaps in its lower wall arranged in back to back pairs so that the flaps facing the fluid may be bent upwardly to provide outlet scoops. The duct constitutes the entire brooder in a chicken house and receives products of combustion from a natural convection burner and heated air collected from around the burner exterior and the exterior of the duct adjacent the burner; the heated air is injected into the duct in a high velocity stream to produce a jet pumping action with respect to the combustion gases. The duct delivers heat primarily by radiation.

In the past, numerous systems have been employed for this purpose. It has been a common practice to employ hoods, under which the chickens congregate to keep warm. These hoods are usually spaced from the floor and occupy a small portion of the total floor space in a chicken house. Thus the chickens are free to move about underneath the hoods and to wander about the chicken house. Serious problems have arisen in attempting to supply these hoods with heat from a centrally-located source. Examples of such prior art systems may be found in the patent to Hall, No. 3,039,378 issued June 19, 1962, and the patent to Reustle No. 2,826,170 issued March 11, 1958. The systems of these representative patents have employed a centrally-located heat source and ducts to carry heated air from the heat source to the hoods for warming the chickens therebeneath. Systems exemplified by the Hall patent exhausted the combustion gases by a chimney, after they have heated fresh air. The heated fresh air is then blown through distribution ducts to the hoods to warm the chickens. This system is quite wasteful in allowing a great quantity of heat to escape up the chimney. Furthermore, the hood system of the Hall patent directs large quantities of high pressure air upon the chickens; which creates considerable drafts, which are detrimental to the raising of chickens in that such drafts produce diseases among the flock. Similarly, the patent to Reustle exemplifies a system that employs small ducts opening beneath the hoods, to again exhaust large quantities of high pressure air directly upon the chickens.

The following are some of the primary objects of this invention:

To provide a more economical heat distribution system and method.

To provide a heat distribution system and method for brooders which are more economical by saving fuel, and which prevent the loss of chickens because of diseases resulting from ineffective heating systems.

To provide a heat distribution system and method for very large brooders wherein the heat may be accurately and evenly controlled throughout the entire system.

To provide a brooder heating system wherein the chickens are primarily heated by radiation rather than forced ventilation, which forced ventilation has a tendency to produce diseases among the chickens.

- To provide a heating system and method wherein the heat usually lost in and around the central heating plant is recovered and utilized To provide a heat distribution system utilizing ducts which will distribute the heat evenly throughout their length.

Other and more specific objects will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment exemplifying the features of this invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates an installed central brooder heating system with portions shown in section;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1, showing a heating system and collection system for stray heat;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2, with portions showing the ducts used for distributing the heat;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIG. 3, and showing the combination duct and hood units for distributing heat to chickens;

FIG. 5 is a view of the undersurface of the combination duct-hood systems showing the louvers through which the heated air passes to the chickens; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 66 of FIG. 2, showing the hood means for collecting the heat from the hot top surface of the duct immediately above the combustion chamber.

In FIG. 1 there is shown a heat distribution unit embodying the principles of this invention and which extends substantially the full length of a chicken house. A typical chicken house, wherein this invention might be employed, would be 250 feet long and house approximately 15,000 chickens. Below the floor 1 of the chicken house, there is installed a heating unit 2, wherein suitable fuel is burned. The products of combustion move up through passage 3 and into ducts 4 and 5. These ducts 4 and 5 include stationary duct portions 6 and 7, which are rigidly attached to the main passage 3. Movable duct portions 8 and 9 are telescopically attached to stationary duct portions 6 and 7, respectfully, at junctions 10. The movable duct portions 8 and 9, may be discon nected from the stationary duct portions 6 and 7 at junctions 10 and raised to the roof of the chicken house by means of cables 11. Cables 11 are supported by means of pulleys 12 which pulleys 12 are in turn supported from the roof of the chicken house 13. The upper ends of the cables 11 are attached by a main cable 14 which is reeled in or out by a winch or other suitable means, not shown. It is desirable to raise the movable duct portions 8 and 9 to the ceiling when the chicken house is being cleaned, preparatory to the entrance of a new batch of chickens, or when the ducts are otherwise not needed.

As shown more clearly in FIG. 2, the products of combustion move from a combustion chamber 15, or mixing area, upwardly through passage 3 into stationary duct portions 6 and 7. Thus, the roof 16 of the stationary duct portions 6 and 7 immediately above the combustion chamber 15 becomes quite hot. For purposes of economy, it is not desirable to heat the entire chicken house. Thus, the ducts are employed to distribute the heat locally to the areas where the chickens congregate when they are in need of warmth. Therefore, any heat escaping from the roof portion 16 would be considered lost for most purposes. It is desirable to regain or recapture the heat that may be radiated or .lost by convection from the roof 16. For this purpose, a collection hood 17 is supported by rods 18 or other means in spaced relation from the roof 16. Air heated by the roof 16 will collect in the hood 17. This heated air is drawn from the collection hood 17 by duct 19 by a suitable fan 20 and is discharged downwardly through duct 21 into secondary distributing duct 22. FIGS. 3 and 4 show the manner in which the secondary duct 22 is mounted within the stationary ducts 6 and 7. Ducts 4 and 5 have roof portions 23, side walls portions 24 and bottom walls 25. Secondary duct 22 is located in the peak of roof 23. The secondary duct 22 extends throughout the length of stationary ducts 6 and 7. At the (We lets 27 of the secondary duct 22, the heated fresh air mixes with the products of combustion passing through stationary ducts 6 and 7.

It is desirable to have the combustion carried to completion so that there will not be a high percentage of poisonous gases therein, as this is particularly important when the combustion products are pumped directly into a housing unit and for full utilization of the fuel. Therefore, it is desirable to have the air used in combustion pass through the combustion zone at a low velocity, for if this is not done and the air is passed through the combustion zone rapidly, it would destroy or disturb the flame composition and produce a high percentage of poisonous gases therein. It is a particular feature of this invention, that the burning unit can be designed for maximum fuel utilization and therefore minimum production of poisonous gases. This is accomplished by having the combustion products proceed at a leisurely pace up through the passage 3 and into the ducts 4 and 5. In contrast to this, the heated air taken above the roof 16 is given a high velocity by fan 20 and injected into the ducts 4 and 5 from the secondary duct 22 at opening 27. The combustion gases are picked up by the high velocity stream of heated fresh air and carried with it; i.e. there is a pumping action at opening 27 where the fresh air and combustion gases mix.

After the products of combustion and heated fresh air are mixed, they travel out through the removable ducts 8 and 9 to be distributed to the chickens. This hot mixture passes through louvers 28 which are formed in the bottom wall 25 of the ducts 8 and 9. Louvers 28 are formed in the bottom sheet metal plate 25 by means of three connected cut portions 29. The portion of metal within these cut openings 29 is bent about the hinge line 30, so that said portion extends upwardly into the duct to act as a scoop or deflector to direct air moving through the duct down and out through plate 25. It is to be noted that two such sets of cut portions 29 are located back to back to present two louvers, whereby, depending upon the direction of the air flowing within the duct, the proper louver portion 28 may be bent inwardly into the duct to direct the air flow down through the bottom wall 25. As shown in FIG. 3, the bottom plate 25 of the duct extends upwardly towards its outer end, where it is approximately one-half way between the bottom and the top of the ducts 4 or 5. Thus, the cross-sectional area of the ducts decreases toward the outer end thereof. It may also be noted, at this point, that the louvers 28 may be adjusted to vary the amount of air that is discharged from the ducts 4 or 5 depending upon the angle to which they are bent. The combined effect of the adjustable louvers 28 and the angularly disposed or upwardly inclined bottom plate 25, produces an even distribution of the heat throughout the entire length of the ducts 4 and 5. In actual tests, there has been less than at 5 F. variation over the total 125 feet of a single duct.

When the brooder heating distribution system is in use, as shown in FIG. 1, movable ducts 8 and 9 are lowered and connected to the stationary ducts 6 and 7 at junctions 10. The ducts 4 and 5 are approximately 12 inches from the floor at their lower edge. About 6 inches of shavings or other cushion material is spread on the floor for the chicks. Therefore, there is approximately 6 inches between the upper surface of the floor material and the lower portion of the ducts 4 or 5. This height may be varied according to how old the chickens are and these ducts 4 and 5 may be raised as the chickens grow in height. When the young chickens are in need of heat, they will congregate beneath the ducts 4 and 5, which in actual practice may be approximately 36 inches in width. In prior devices,

such as that of the aforementioned Hall patent. the chick ens have been heated solely by means of the discharge of hot air. In the subject device the hot air within the ducts 4 and 5 heats the lower plate 25 to a point where it gives off substantial radiation to provide substantial heat to the chickens. Therefore, very little air need be discharged from the ducts through louvers 28 to warm the chickens. This is an important feature, since in past brooder systems the discharge of substantial amounts of high velocity air has produced diseases among the chickens. Furthermore, prior art systems have required curtains or other means at the edges of the ducts to limit the escape of the heated air whereas, in the device of the instant application, these curtains need not be employed, since a substantial amount of the heat is given off by radiation from the lower plate 25. In actual practice, it has been found that the first few sections of the ducts 4 and 5 develop so much radiation that the louvers 28, in these sections need not be opened at all. A typical unit embodying the features of the Hall patent, which may run 250 feet in length, would require a 5,000 cubic feet per minute blower, whereas the same size unit of the instant invention would require only a 500 cubic feet per minute blower. Thus it is seen that the chickens are subjected to far less air movement in the instant device than would be obtained in a device embodying the principles of the said Hall patent. The under portion of the ducts 4 and 5 below the lower plate 25 may employ lights (not shown) to attract the young chickens towards the heat, in a conventional manner.

The heat distribution unit is controlled by two thermostats. One thermostat 31 is located within the chicken house to call for heat when the temperature therein drops to a certain point. This thermostat turns on the burner unit. The burner will continue operating until the thermostat located within the chicken house reaches a set temperature above the lower starting temperature. Once the burner unit has started, the heat will rise up through passage 3 and into ducts 4 and 5 heating the upper surface 16 of ducts 4 and 5 immediately above the combustion chamber 15. Collection hood 17 has mounted thereon a thermostatic control 31 for controlling the operating of the fan 20. When the temperature of the stationary ducts 6 and 7 reaches a predetermined point, as indicated by the thermostatic control 31 on collection hood 17, the thermostatic control 31 turns on the fan 20. After the burner has stopped due to the action of the main thermostat, the fan 20 will continue to operate until the temperature of the roof 16 is reduced sufficiently, as determined by thermostat 31. It may be noted that any number of fans 20 and related ducts 19 and 21 may be employed.

The operation of the brooder heat distributing system is as follows: When the main thermostat calls for heat, the burner 2 is turned on. Heat and the combustion products move upwardly through passage 3 into stationary ducts 6 and 7, and thereby heat the roof 16 and surrounding area has reached a certain point, the thermostatic control 31 turns on fan 20 to move air from around and above the roof 16, under collection hood 17, up through duct 19, and down through duct 21 to secondary duct 22. From there, this relatively high velocity heated fresh air moves through secondary duct 22 and out of passage opening 27 into the main movable ducts 8 and 9. The heated fresh air moving out of opening 27 at a rapid rate picks up and mixes with the products of combustion moving in stationary ducts 6 and 7. The mixture thus obtained moves out through ducts 8 and 9 to heat the lower surface 25 of the ducts. Chickens congregating underneath the ducts 8 and 9 will receive radiant heat from lower plate 25, this being the only heat received in the first few sections of the duct work In the latter sections, and towards the outer extremities of said ducts, the louvers 28 will be opened. The openings provided by louvers 28 will be largest at the outer extremities of the movable ducts 8 and 9, since at this point the air will be at its lowest temperature and velocity. When the main thermostat no longer calls for heat, the burner 2 will be shut oif. However, the fan 20 will continue operation until the thermostatic control 31 shuts it off. Cables 11 and 12 may be used to raise the movable ducts 8 and 9 a distance off the floor sufficient to enable the chickens to freely move beneath the ducts 8 and 9. This distance will depend upon the size of the chickens. When the chicken house is to be cleaned or heat is not required, the movable ducts 8 and 9 may be raised to the ceiling by cables 11.

Although this invention has been described with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular details shown forpurposes of illustration and other embod1- ments are contemplated. The spirit and scope of the invention is to be determined by the following claims.

What is claimed is: I

1. Apparatus for the distribution of air comprising: enclosure means for containing air under pressure; a plate comprising one wall of said enclosure means; louvers in said wall including a flap portion cut out of said wall anda hinge portion connecting said flap to said wall, whereby said flaps may be bent about the hinge portions to adjust the size of the openings to vary the outlet area for the air under pressure; and at least two of said flaps being arranged with their hinge portions parallel and closely adjacent to each other and extending away from their hinge portions in opposite directions.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said enclosure means constitutes an elongated duct means for conducting air primarily in one direction throughout its length, said hinge portions extending transverse to said one direction and only said flap portions that open in the direction of the incoming air being bent inwardly to form a scoop means for directing the moving air out of the enclosure means and the others of said flap portions normally extending within the plane of said plate.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said duct means has a cross sectional area decreasing uniformly and continuously in said one direction for producing a substantially uniform pressure throughout its length.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said duct means has a cross sectional area decreasing uniformly and continuously in said one direction for producing a substantially uniform pressure throughout its length.

5. A brooder heating system for heating chickens within a chicken house, comprising: burner means for burning fuel and air to produce combustion gases; first duct means for collecting the combustion gases and having a first outlet; second duct means for collecting heated air from around the outside of said burner means and said first duct means, and having a second outlet closely adjacent to and in fluid communication with said first outlet; blower means for acting only upon the heated air within said second duct means for discharging said heated air at a high velocity from said second outlet to form a jet pump means for drawing the combustion gases from said first duct means; said jet pump means providing the sole motive force for the combustion gases; and third duct means for discharging the mixed heated air and combustion gases at spaced points throughout the chicken house.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said third duct means includes a bottom wall comprising a plate; louvers in said bottom wall, each inclding a flap portion cut out of said plate to form an opening and a hinge portion connecting said flap portion to said bottom wall, each flap arranged with their third duct means having a cross sectional area decreasing uniformly and continuously in said one direction for providing a substantially uniform pressure throughout its length.

7. A brooder heating system for supplying heat to a large number of chickens in a chicken house, comprising a chicken brooder; burner means for burning fuel and air to produce hot combustion gases; and elongated duct means to enclose and transport said combustion gases throughout its length, said duct means including a bottom Wall defining substantially the entire area of said chicken brooder under which the chickens congregate to receive heat, said bottom wall being provided with openings, substantially the entire upper surface of the said bottom wall being contacted throughout its area by the combustion gases moving within said duct means, said bottom Wall constituting radiator means for receiving heat from said combustion gases within said duct means and emitting a substantial amount of radiant heat to the chickens congregating beneath said bottom wall, said openings conducting a portion of the combustion gases in said duct means through said Wall. and downwardly toward the area where the chickens congregate beneath said bottom wall.

air and combustion gases at spaced points throughout its length.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said bottom wall comprising a plate; louvers in said bottom wall each ineluding a flap portion cut out of said plate to form an opening and a hinge portion connecting said flap portion to said bottom wall, each flap portion being bent about of said opening and to 10. A brooder heating system comprising: a burner; an enclosure for receiving the products of combustion from said burner; a stationary duct leading from said enclosure and connected with said enclosure, whereby the products of combustion within said enclosure and withsaid heated walls and said stationary duct; secondary duct means; and blower means to rapidly move said heated air through said secondary duct means, said secondary duct means and stationary duct opening adjacent to one another, whereby the products of combustion and the heated air are mixed and the high velocity heated air accelerates the products of combustion; a movable duct; means to detachably connect said movable duct to said stationary duct, whereby the mixture of the products-of combustion and heated air will move into said movable duct; means to raise and lower said movable duct when said movable duct is disconnected from said stationary duct, said movable duct and said stationary duct being supported closely adjacent to the floor of the chicken house whereby chickens may congregate beneath the ducts to receive heat therefrom, said movable duct having a bottom wall defining the area under which the chickens congregate to receive heat, whereby said bottom wall is heated by the mixture of the products of combustion and heated air to a point Where it give off substantial radiation to any chickens beneath it; passageways within said bottom wall to conduct air from said duct through said bottom wall and out into the area wherein said chickens congregate, the cross-sectional area of said movable duct decreasing in the direction away from said detachable connection; thermostatic control means for controlling the operation of said burner, whereby said burner is turned on when the temperature of the chicken house reaches a predetermined point and the burner is turned off when the temperature in the chicken house reaches a predetermined higher point; thermostatic control means for controlling the operation of said blower, whereby said blower is turned on when the temperature of the air around said enclosure means and said stationary duct reaches a predetermined point and is turned off when the temperature of the air above said enclosure means and said stationary duct reaches a predetermined lower point.

11. A heating system for a chicken house comprising; a burner; enclosure means for receiving the products of combustion from said burner; a stationary duct leading from said enclosure means andconnected with said enclosure means, whereby the products of combustion within said enclosure mean and within said stationary duct heat the walls of said enclosure means and said stationary duct; means to collect air from around said heated walls and said stationary duct; secondary duct means; blower means to rapidly move said heated air through said s condary duct means, said secondary duct means and stationary duct opening adjacent to one another whereby the products of combustion and the heating air are mixed and the high velocity heated air accelerates the products of combustion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,373,741 4/1945 Caldwell 98-41 X 2,428,867 10/1947 DeLancey 236--10 2,560,246 7/1951 Ream 237-3 2,93 8,449 5/ 1960 Newell et al 98-40 2,983,215 5/1961 Doolittle 98-40 3,211,439 10/1965 Fahlberg 263-19 EDWARD 1. MICHAEL, Primary Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF AIR COMPRISING; ENCLOSURE MEANS FOR CONTAINING AIR UNDER PRESSURE; A PLATE COMPRISING ONE WALL OF SAID ENCLOSURE MEANS; LOUVERS IN SAID WALL INCLUDING A FLAP PORTION CUT OUT OF SAID WALL AND A HINGE PORTION CONNECTING SAID FLAP TO SAID WALL, WHEREBY SAID FLAPS MAY BE BENT ABOUT THE HINGE PORTIONS TO ADJUST THE SIZE OF THE OPENINGS TO VARY THE OUTLET AREA FOR THE AIR UNDER PRESSURE; AND AT LEAST TWO OF SAID FLAPS BEING ARRANGED WITH THEIR HINGE PORTIONS PARALLEL AND CLOSELY ADJACENT TO EACH OTHER AND EXTENDING AWAY FROM THEIR HINGE PORTIONS IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS. 